If you’re a country music lover – and I definitely am – you undoubtedly have a connection to the legendary band Alabama. Some might argue that they are the greatest country band of all time, and I’m almost inclined to agree.
But what I would say is that their lead singer, Randy Owen, remains to this day one of the most iconic, smooth, purest, and emotionally rawest vocalists ever.
Unfortunately, he’s had a tough time in recent years.
In the realm of music, there are those blessed with an abundance of raw talent that seems almost otherworldly. Randy Owen, the iconic frontman of Alabama, undeniably falls into this category.
The 74-year-old country musician epitomizes the essence of a class act — a small-town boy who ascended to greatness on the grand stage of music.
With over 75 million records sold, he stands as a towering figure in the industry, having forged one of the greatest groups in modern music history. When one thinks of Alabama, it evokes a sense of America, as the band has touched countless lives in the country through their music and their admirable beliefs in helping others.
And nothing, as they say, would have been possible without Randy Owen, the face of the iconic band.
For those who don’t know, Alabama is still touring and Randy Owen’s voice is as wonderful as ever. But the past few years haven’t been easy for the legendary and humble singer. One could say that his health issues began in 2010 when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The diagnosis came as a shock to Randy, as it was discovered after a blood test during a routine check-up. The test revealed high levels of PSA, prostate-specific antigen. In just a few seconds, the world seemed to collapse under his feet.
“When they told me that I had cancer, it was devastating,” he told Coping and added: “My whole world stopped. Cancer is a scary thing. It is a scary, scary word when it’s said about you.”
Fortunately, the cancer had been caught early, and it hadn’t had a chance to spread. A prompt and effective treatment would have significant chances of eliminating the cancer. He underwent high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), a treatment currently undergoing clinical trials that employs high-energy sound waves to destroy cancer cells.
At the same time, one can never be certain of the outcome of a cancer treatment, and there were moments when Randy thought he would die. The first question he asked the doctor after the news was: “How long do I have?”
“He said, ‘I refuse to work with you as long as you have an attitude like that,’ ” Owen recalled in an interview with The Tennessean . “I said, ‘What do you mean?’ He said, ‘I’m the captain of the ship now and we’re going to whip this.’”
To receive the best possible treatment, Randy traveled to Mexico with his wife. On his doctor’s recommendation, a high-intensity focused ultrasound procedure was performed there since the treatment was not permitted in the USA at that time.
“I was absolutely nervous,” he said of receiving the lifesaving procedure in Mexico. “But I felt like that was the right thing for me. I don’t want to get into telling men what to do, but men are so awful about not getting their checks. Prostate cancer to so many people is something you don’t talk about. There are options out there, and the biggest thing is to get the PSA test regularly and don’t be ashamed to talk about it. We’re all just human, and we all get sick.”
Randy was raised on a farm near Fort Payne, Alabama, picking cotton and tending to cattle. As a young boy, he always attended church and he grew up singing gospel music. His strong faith has helped him during the difficult times in his life. It also played a significant role in his recovery after the cancer treatment.
”I do believe in prayer,” he told Coping and continued:
“The thing that meant the most to me was all the people around the world who were praying for me. I don’t know how much more of a boost you can get. First of all, to know that people cared about you, and second, to know that prayer gets answers.”
As mentioned, family was a significant source of support for Randy, with his wife Kelly being especially present during the star’s battle against cancer.
Randy and Kelly tied the knot in 1975, and as of 2024, they have been married for forty-nine years. According to Married Biography, Randy was twenty-five years old, while Kelly was just seventeen when they exchanged their vows together. As a couple, they have fostered three wonderful children: two daughters, Randa Rosanne Youell and Alison Sena Yeuell, and one son, Heath Youell.
Randy, now 74, resides with his wife, Kelly, in a Tudor-style mansion located just a stone’s throw away from his childhood home in Fort Payne, Alabama. And by the way, he still raises cattle, like his daddy before him.
Possible heart attack
Apart from his battle with cancer, Randy Owen has been fortunate in terms of health. However, in 1993, he experienced a frightening incident where he feared for his life. While sleeping at home, Randy believed he was having a heart attack. His heart raced so fast and hard that he feared it would burst.
His wife, Kelly, immediately called a family friend who was a nurse. Randy was rushed to the hospital for a battery of tests, which ultimately revealed no health issues. Today, it might be described as a panic attack or symptoms of exhaustion.
”I reckon I just got kind of overloaded. My heart just got to beating real fast, and I got kind of scared. And like any normal person would, the more scared I got, the worse it got,” Randy shared with Birmingham Post-Herald in 1994.
The fact that Randy’s father passed away from a heart attack just as Randy was beginning to break into the music scene only heightened his anxiety.
Fortunately, everything turned out fine, and the cancer diagnosis in 2010 was a much more challenging journey for the Alabama star.
Today, Randy is cancer-free and undergoes regular check-ups. He has also made significant efforts to raise funds for cancer research. As a founder of Country Cares for St. Jude Kids, Owen has helped raise more than $800 million for cancer research at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.
“I can look at those sweet little children at St. Jude and their families and say, ‘I’m with you. I’m a cancer survivor. I know what it’s like to be told that I have cancer,'” Randy says.
In light of Randy Owen’s enduring resilience and remarkable contributions to both music and charitable causes, we are truly fortunate to still have him in our lives! His unwavering strength and commitment to supporting cancer research, serves as an inspiration to us all.
As we reflect on his musical journey and legacy, we can only express our gratitude for this legendary Alabamian. Here’s to many more years of his uplifting presence and meaningful endeavors!
